Discounted Tickets Now Offered for Service Men and Women in Advance of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship Aug. 26-28

Danville, Virginia – July 20, 2016 – VIRginia International Raceway, one of America’s premier road courses, is launching a special ongoing military discount program in appreciation of those who have served. Just in time for the Michelin GT Challenge, the track’s largest race of the year taking place during the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship weekend Aug. 26 to 28, all active military members will now be admitted free of charge and veterans will receive a 50 percent discount on tickets for all VIR events.

The track has a long history of honoring United States military with various appearances and activities during spectator events each season, such as patriotic flyovers, ceremonial military bands and decorated special guests serving as race grand marshals. The new military personnel discount program is a natural extension of those initiatives.

“Our military fans have always been so supportive of VIR and we are honored to show a small token of our appreciation for them through this discount offer,” said Connie Nyholm, VIR owner and CEO. “The new policy comes at a perfect time as military members can take advantage of the free and half-off tickets during our biggest race of the year, the Michelin GT Challenge. The race weekend will include tons of high-speed action and family fun, and we’re looking forward to welcoming anyone who has or is serving our country.”

VIR is the only track in the greater Mid-Atlantic area and the 10th stop of only 12 tracks nationwide selected to host the WeatherTech SportsCar Championship in 2016. The Michelin GT Challenge, brought to VIR by title sponsor and global technology leader, Michelin, will take place on the track’s historic full course Sunday, Aug. 28 as a culmination of the race weekend. It is 3.27 miles with 17 turns and 130 feet of elevation changes. Drivers reach top speeds of 190 miles per hour during the nearly three-hour race that includes the “climbing esses,” a section of the course considered by many race drivers as one of the most challenging and intimidating in North America.

The weekend will also feature several other support series, including the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge, Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America, Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama and Mazda MX 5 Cup. Activities throughout the three-day event include testing, qualifying, car corrals, driver autograph sessions, Made on Michelin hot laps, a skydiver performance, concert and more. Additionally, festivities will extend beyond the track offering guest experiences at VIR’s many onsite amenities, such as karting and dining at the Oak Tree Tavern. Guests can come for a single day, multiple days throughout the weekend or even camp onsite on the expansive countryside property located at the border of Virginia and North Carolina.

Military members can claim the discount by showing valid government issued identification at the VIR registration gate upon arrival for any spectator event. Regular, advanced tickets to the Michelin GT Challenge race weekend are $40 for Friday-only, $45 for Saturday-only, $55 for Sunday-only, $65 for a two-day Saturday and Sunday ticket, and $75 for a three-day ticket. All tickets are an additional $10 if purchased at the gate. Children 16 and under are admitted free of charge with a paying adult and parking is also free. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.virnow.com or call (434) 822-TIKS.

About VIRginia International Raceway

VIRginia International Raceway is one of America’s premier road courses, offering professional and amateur racing for modern and vintage classes while providing contemporary resort amenities. A prominent test facility for the automotive industry, VIR has the distinction of being named one of the top six courses in North America by Car & Driver Magazine, and southern roots and hospitality make it one of the friendliest. Conveniently located at the Virginia/North Carolina border, VIR is just a short two-hour trip from Richmond and about an hour and 15 minutes from both the Piedmont-Triad and Raleigh-Durham International Airports.

VIRginia International Raceway is one of America’s premier road courses, offering professional and amateur racing for modern and vintage classes while providing contemporary resort amenities, such as lodging, dining, a spa, an exclusive driver’s club, karting, off-road racing, shooting sports, skid pad and more. For more information, visit www.VIRnow.com, Facebook or Twitter.

About IMSA

The International Motor Sports Association, LLC (IMSA) was originally founded in 1969 and owns a long and rich history in sports car racing. Today, IMSA is the sanctioning body of the IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship, the premier sports car racing series in North America. IMSA also sanctions the Continental Tire SportsCar Challenge and the Mazda Prototype Lites Presented by Cooper Tires, as well as four single-make series: Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge USA by Yokohama; Ultra 94 Porsche GT3 Cup Challenge Canada by Yokohama; Ferrari Challenge North America; and Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo North America. IMSA – a company within the NASCAR family – is the exclusive strategic partner in North America with the Automobile Club de l'Ouest (ACO) which operates the 24 Hours of Le Mans as a part of the FIA World Endurance Championship. The partnership enables selected IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship competitors to earn automatic entries into the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans. For more information, visit www.imsa.com, Twitter or Facebook.

About Michelin North America

Dedicated to the improvement of sustainable mobility, Michelin designs, manufactures and sells tires for every type of vehicle, including airplanes, automobiles, bicycles, Earthmovers, farm equipment, heavy-duty trucks and motorcycles. The company also publishes travel guides, hotel and restaurant guides, maps and road atlases. Headquartered in Greenville, S.C., Michelin North America (www.michelinman.com) employs more than 22,650 and operates 20 major manufacturing plants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.